Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Conditions of Employment

lord monks: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to transpose into UK legislation, both pre- and post-Brexit, all European employment rights.

lord prior of brampton: The Government remains committed to protecting and enhancing workers’ rights following the UK’s exit from the EU. All employment rights which currently apply in the UK, including those derived from EU law, will continue to be guaranteed after exit. The Great Repeal Bill will provide the mechanism for this.

Cabinet Office

Households

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the change in the total number of UK households in the period 2010 to 2015; and what was the change in the number of those households with (1) a UK-born household reference person, and (2) a non-UK born household reference person.

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the change in the total number of households in England in the period 2010 to 2015; and what was the change in the number of those households with (1) a UK-born household reference person, and (2) a non-UK born household reference person.

lord young of cookham: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and I will place a copy of their letter in the House library.



UKSA Response to HL6263 and HL6264
(PDF Document, 67.49 KB)

Department for International Development

Religious Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why no reference to (1) targeted and persecuted religious minorities, or (2) the fundamental human right of freedom of religion and belief, is made in the goals specified in the Department for International Development policy paper, Agenda 2030: Delivering the Global Goals.

lord bates: While there is no specific reference in the DFID Policy Paper, the UK’s commitment to Leave No One Behind encompasses a broad range of discriminated and marginalised groups - age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status, such as language, LGBT, migratory status or geographic location. Leave No One Behind means tackling the root causes of extreme poverty and exclusion for different groups – including on the basis of religion – by ensuring opportunities for all, both now and in the future. It commits the UK to set a of actions to ensure that; people who are furthest behind, who have least opportunity and who are the most excluded will be prioritised.

Department for Education

Apprentices: Training

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many further education colleges rated (1) good, or (2) outstanding, by Ofsted were not included on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers announced on 14 March.

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to assist those further education colleges which were not included on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers announced on 14 March.

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many training providers with no previous history of delivering apprenticeships were included on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers announced on 14 March.

lord nash: More than 1,700 providers made it onto the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (the Register) in the first round – three quarters of those who applied – including 173 FE colleges. There were no further education colleges rated outstanding by Ofsted that were not included, however seventeen colleges that were rated good overall by Ofsted were not included on the basis that they failed to meet the broader set of criteria against which all applicants were assessed. To ensure excellence for apprenticeship provision we cannot compromise on our commitment to rigorous quality tests for apprenticeship training.We have already re-opened the Register for new applications and to allow those who were unsuccessful to reapply. We will announce the results by the end of May. We have provided detailed feedback to providers who were not successful in their initial application, to help them understand what they need to do to be successful in the future.The new Register opens up the current apprenticeship market to wider competition. We have sought to encourage new providers to come forward who do not have a tradition of delivering apprenticeships. There are 451 organisations that we consider to have no previous history of delivering apprenticeships. These include Universities, charities, public sector bodies, employers and other private/commercial providers. This will give employers a wider choice of providers and create a broader range of training for individual apprentices to benefit from.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Civil Disorder

baroness corston: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money has been paid to Carillion as a result of damage to prison property during disorders and riots in the last five years.

baroness corston: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimates they have made of the amount of money likely to be paid to Carillion as a result of prison disorders and riots in the last five years.

lord keen of elie: The following amounts have been paid, or are forecast to be paid, to Carillion in respect of concerted indiscipline at the following sites since Total Facilities Management contracts commenced on 1st June 2015:EstablishmentAmount paidAmounts forecast to be payableBedford-£444,813Swaleside£14,452Final amount to be confirmed following completion and verification of work undertakenLewes£166,762.12-Erlestoke£631,468£168,026We will continue to closely monitor Carillion’s performance and have robust processes in place to ensure they are fulfilling their contractual requirements.It is right that prison repair work is carried out in a timely and effective manner to ensure public protection. We always work to ensure we achieve value for money for the taxpayer and keep our costs under review.

Competition

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the consultation proposed in A better deal: boosting competition to bring down bills for families and firms (Cm 9164), published in November 2015, on making legal regulators fully independent of the representative bodies has been launched, and, if not, why not.

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to consult on making legal regulators fully independent of representative bodies, first proposed in A better deal: boosting competition to bring down bills for families and firms (Cm 9164), published in November 2015.

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to respond to the recommendations of the Competition and Markets Authority’s legal services market study report, published on 15 December 2016, and what assessment they have made of the implications of their report regarding the ability for legal regulators to investigate and rule on the ethics, conduct and behaviour of lawyers.

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received any representations regarding the ability of legal regulators to bring prosecutions against solicitors for breaches of the law, and any proposals for that ability to be strengthened; and if so, whether they agree with those representations.

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study into legal services, published on 15 December 2016, that legal service regulators should be independent of their representative bodies as a "matter of principle"; and whether they have made any assessment of the possible benefits of such a move.

lord keen of elie: The government has not yet issued a consultation on making legal services regulators independent from their representative bodies, and will respond to the Competition and Markets Authority’s report and recommendations shortly. The final report of the Insurance Fraud Task Force (January 2016) included a recommendation that the government should consider strengthening the enforcement powers of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We are reviewing the position on this and considering what further action may be appropriate.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Channel Four Television: Public Appointments

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 21 March (HL5834), whether the female candidate who was not approved for appointment by the Secretary of State failed to meet the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions; and if so, whether they have determined that Ofcom was wrong to recommend her as suitably qualified to be appointed.

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 21 March (HL5834), whether the reason why the female candidate who was not approved for appointment by the Secretary of State was that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport targets of 50 per cent and 10 per cent for female and BAME candidates, respectively, had already been exceeded, that the female candidate was from a minority ethnic background, whereas the successful four men appointed were not, or for some other reason.

lord ashton of hyde: Non-executive members of the Channel 4 Corporation board are appointed by Ofcom with the approval of the Secretary of State. Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience. The Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they met the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions.

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment

baroness hollins: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of people currently receiving the enhanced mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will move to the standard rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.

baroness hollins: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of people currently receiving the enhanced mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will not be entitled to receive any mobility rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.

baroness hollins: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of people currently receiving the standard mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will not be entitled to receive any mobility rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.

lord henley: No Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants will see a reduction in the amount of PIP previously awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions as a result of the regulations being introduced, including the point at which their claim is next reviewed. We are aware of a small number of cases, where people may have been awarded a higher level of PIP by a tribunal. This could occur if their case was heard at appeal and a tribunal made a higher award, applying the rulings of the Upper Tribunal. We will not be claiming back the money these individuals received during the period before the new regulations came into force and are considering whether to adjust their payments to bring them in line with the amended PIP regulations. I will place a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment in the House Library.

Personal Independence Payment: Mental Illness

baroness hollins: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of people with each of (1) anxiety and depressive disorders, (2) depressive disorder, (3) schizophrenia, (4) bipolar affective disorder, (5) personality disorder, (6) post traumatic stress disorder, or other psychotic disorders who currently receive the Personal Independence Payment and who at their original assessment (or following mandatory reconsideration or appeal) scored points by satisfying descriptors 1c, 1d and 1f of the mobility component.

lord henley: The table below provides an estimate of the number of people with the conditions requested currently receiving Personal Independence Payment who satisfied descriptors c, d or f of mobility activity 1 at the point of original decision by the Department. Information on the numbers following mandatory reconsideration or appeal is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.  Mobility Activity 1: descriptors c, d or fAnxiety / Depressive Disorders4,700Bipolar Affective Disorder1,500Depressive Disorder2,400Personality Disorder1,000Post Traumatic Stress Disorder600Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective disorder5,200  Notes: Figures rounded to the nearest 100Figures are at 31 January 2017

Employment: Learning Disability

lord condon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage the full-time employment of adults with special learning needs; and what progress was made in (1) 2015, and (2) 2016.

lord henley: The Government strongly supports the need to provide more employment opportunities to adults with a learning disability or autism. In 2015 3,140 individuals with a learning disability started the Work Choice programme, with 61% achieving a job outcome. 2016 annual data are not yet available. In 2015 the department introduced Specialist Employability Support (SES) to provide up to a further 1700 places per year intensive and personalised support for people, including those with learning disabilities. Disability Confident works to influence employers to take on more disabled people, including those with learning disabilities, and to market Access to Work to disabled people. Access to Work has a new Hidden Impairment Support Team which aims to give advice and guidance to employers, and offers eligible workers an assessment of their needs at work and a support plan. Last year, Paul Maynard MP led a taskforce that made recommendations to Government on how to improve access to apprenticeships for people with learning disabilities. Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education are working together to implement all of these recommendations. Looking forward, we are testing ways to improve our support for people with learning disabilities through a Local Supported Employment proof of concept and Supported Work Experience for young people, which offers young people with learning disabilities and other long term conditions a chance to spend time with an employer.

Ministry of Defence

Army: Young People

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements they are making to ensure that the Army Review of Junior Entry (1) seeks and considers external evidence, (2) considers how the armed services can be exemplary standard setters in fulfilling their duty of care and support for young recruits, and (3) examines the proportion of young Army recruits who are destined for a future in the infantry; and what assessment they have made of the implications of the higher death and casualty rates in the infantry service for recruitment practices.

earl howe: I refer the noble Lord to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces (Mike Penning), in the House of Commons on 27 February 2017 to Question number 64193 and on 14 March 2017 to Question number 67005. The Army is consulting with the Departments for Education, Health and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Army is conducting a review of its Junior Entry policy to ensure it attracts the best young people and continues to maximise the talent of the individual, to the mutual advantage of both the young person and the Army. The review will report initial findings later this year. All recruits joining the Army, including those between the ages of 16 and 18, are recruited into a variety of roles depending on their aptitude and available vacancies. The Ministry of Defence does not make assessments of death and casualty rates in the context of recruitment practices.



Army: Young People
(Word Document, 34.41 KB)

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect that testing and evaluation in the US of the Boeing-P8A aircraft being purchased by the UK will be completed.

earl howe: The Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft being procured for the Royal Air Force is a mature capability that is already being operated by the US Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, therefore the initial test and evaluation of the aircraft is complete. However, through a programme of planned capability development and upgrades, the P-8A will progressively deliver yet further capability which provides confidence it will meet current and future UK key user requirements. The test and evaluation of these increments is therefore on-going.

Hercules Aircraft

lord robathan: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many hours the RAF fleet of C-130Js has flown in each year since entering service; and what was the average cost per flying hour for the C-130J over the same period.

earl howe: The first C-130J was delivered in 1998. The information requested on the C-130J is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for the planned flying hours from financial years 2000-01 to 2015-16 are given in the table below. Figures reflect the total C-130 fleet irrespective of aircraft Mark, and therefore include the C-130K which is now out of service.  C-130 Fleet Planned Flying Hours Financial YearPlanned Flying Hours2000-0136,7102001-0236,7102002-0337,4602003-0437,4602004-0534,9602005-0634,9602006-0734,9602007-0834,9602008-0929,6002009-1028,7202010-1128,0602011-1226,0802012-1324,4402013-1422,1502014-1513,6902015-1613,640Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

World War I: Military Decorations

lord shipley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what regulations apply to the preservation of King's Colours laid up across the country after the First World War.

lord shipley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what exceptions have been made to the application of the regulations that apply to the preservation of King's Colours laid up after the First World War.

earl howe: There are no regulations which apply to the preservation of King's Colours laid up across the country after the First World War. Service Battalion Colours, once laid up, are intended to remain where deposited in perpetuity. When deemed completely disintegrated, the remains are to be buried with the staff, lion and crown colour pole mount, in consecrated ground without any marking.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Social Services: Finance

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 23 December 2016 (HL4083), which local authorities in England with responsibility for adult social care will not be using their precept raising power to the maximum permitted level in 2017–18 to fund adult social care.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Council tax levels set by local authorities in England for 2017-18 were published (attached) on 29 March - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/council-tax-levels-set-by-local-authorities-in-england-2017-to-2018.In 2017-18, 147 out of 152 adult social care authorities will use some or all of the 3 per cent adult social care precept flexibility when setting their council tax, with 109 using the full, or close to full, 3 per cent. I will place a list of local authorities which will not be using their precept raising power to the maximum permitted level in 2017 -18 to fund adult social care in the House library. 



Council Tax Levels Set by local authorities
(PDF Document, 650.89 KB)

Supported Housing: Finance

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of their intention to devolve discretionary funding on supported housing costs to English local authorities, funding will be provided for such councils under the new burdens doctrine.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: I would refer the Noble Lord to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions made in the other place on 15 September 2016 (attached) about supported accommodation, which made clear we will consider what level of new burdens funding would be appropriate to enable local authorities to fulfil their new role.http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-09-15/HCWS154/ 



Written Statement HCWS154
(PDF Document, 824.21 KB)

Department for Exiting the European Union

European Economic Area

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether an application by a country to become party to the EEA Agreement requires the agreement of each individual EU member state or of the Council of the EU; and, if the latter, whether the matter would have to be decided by unanimity or by qualified majority.

lord bridges of headley: To become party to the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement a State must first be in either the EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Applications are made to the EEA Council leading to an agreement which is subject to unanimous agreement and subsequent ratification by all Contracting Parties. As the Prime Minister has made clear, we will not be remaining a member of the Single Market and do not intend to rejoin the EEA.

Brexit

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that they have the necessary resources to manage the transition of powers from the EU, in relation to (1) central government departments, and (2) assessing and managing the impact of leaving the EU on the devolution settlements.

lord bridges of headley: We constantly review and monitor the size of the Civil Service workforce to meet the Prime Minister’s priorities.The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £412m of additional funding to support EU exit and trade policy. The Civil Service is focused on delivering the Government’s commitment to leave the European Union and get the very best deal for the UK. We are equipping ourselves with the right people and the right skills across government to make this happen, and keeping our plans - and ability to deliver them - under constant review.

Department of Health

Care Homes

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether NHS hospital trusts are permitted to purchase residential or nursing home beds for patients who no longer need to occupy an acute hospital bed but cannot be discharged to a social care placement.

lord o'shaughnessy: National Health Service trusts are able to purchase residential and nursing care but we would expect them to do this in a planned way with their local clinical commissioning group and local authority.

Atrial Fibrillation

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 13 July 2016 (HL1005), whether the UK National Screening Committee has considered the timing of its review of the evidence for screening people aged 65 and over for atrial fibrillation; and whether there will be an opportunity for organisations to submit evidence to that review.

lord o'shaughnessy: Where the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not recommend screening for a particular condition, the evidence is reviewed again in three years as part of its regular review cycle. The next evidence review for atrial fibrillation is expected to commence in 2017/18. If any new published peer reviewed evidence emerges before the upcoming review, which may change the current recommendation, individuals or organisations may alert the UK NSC to this.

Atrial Fibrillation

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to identify people with atrial fibrillation at high risk of stroke who are (1) not anticoagulated, or (2) not maintained in therapeutic range.

lord o'shaughnessy: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance and quality standards on anticoagulation for people with atrial fibrillation. NHS England has identified improved management of atrial fibrillation as a priority for reducing premature mortality.Tools are available that enable general practitioners (GPs) to monitor whether patients are in the therapeutic range or not. There are also incentives for GPs to ensure that atrial fibrillation patients receive appropriate anticoagulation.NHS England continue to support and promote the use of an audit tool that enables GPs to search patients’ data in order to identify patients at a high risk of atrial fibrillation, and then review those patients’ treatment options. In practices that use the tool regularly, there has been an increase in high risk patients prescribed oral anticoagulants (from 61% to 68%), with a corresponding decrease in high risk patients prescribed antiplatelets, such as aspirin (from 28% to 21%).